Insulator.



E. N. I IGHTFOOT.

msuLAoH. APPLICATION FILED DEC-21|19I2.

Emma Aug. 7, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

E. N. LiGHTFOT.

INSULATOR. APPLICATion FILED Dimm. 1912'.

' 2 sums-SHEET 2.

STATES PATENT oEEroE.

EDWIN N.LIGHTFOOT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE CUTLER-HAMMER MFG.

C0., OE MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION 0F WISCONSIN.

INSULATOR.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Application nea December 21, 1912. serial No. 737,988.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN N. I IGHTroon a citizen of the United States, residing at the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved insulator.

More particularly the inventionv relates to an insulator which, among other uses, may

be employed as an insulating bushing, an

insulator and terminal for an electric circuit or as an insulator and support for live conductors.

An object of the invention is to provide an insilator which may be completely assembled during manufacture, thereby facilitating the mounting of the device for use.

Another object is Y to provide an insulator which may be` readily and easily mounted upon its support. Y

Another object is to provide an insulator especially adapted for use where high temperatures are encountered.

Another object of the invention is to pro-v vide an insulator which is waterproof.

notherfobject of the invention is to pro? 1 vide an insulator accomplishing' the objects above enumerated, which may be economically manufactured.

Several embodiments of the invention are llustrated in the accompanying'drawings, in which: A

Figure 1 is a section of one form of the device adapted for use as an insulating bushing. l

Fig. 2 is a front elevation ofthe bushing illustrated. in Fig. 1.

rigs. s to 1a unseat@ mediatations.`

its use as'an insulating bushing. The in- .sulator `comprises a washer 1 of insulating material, preferably mica, although ber or Ainsulating washer is clamped, as at 4 andA 5, and an eyelet 6, preferably of metal, em-

bracing andclamping the inner edge of the washer as at 7 and 8. The thimble 2 is Patented Aug. '7, 1917. A

in the bent-in portion 14 permits a conductor to be led through from the inside and attached to the binding screw 16 thereby providing for easy access to the terminal.. This feature is especially useful in' structures such as electric heaters where the insulator is in the wall ofan inclosing box and it is desired to inclose the conductor and still have the terminal readily accessible.

Fig. 5 illustrates a water-proof insulator and terminal in which all openings lthrough the structure are eliminated. In place of the eyelet 6 the inner edge ofthe insulating washer is clamped between an enlargement 18 and a washer 19 held in place by a nut 20 on the conductin stud or bolt 21 which closely ts the centra opening in the washer. Nuts 22 are provided for holding the conductor ends. This form of `terminal provides a Water-proofstructure and also provides for increased capacity. v

Fig. 6 illustrates` a terminal havin a greater capacity than that illustrated in ig.

3 since in this form the entire central opening of the eyelet is available for carrying conductors. In this form an additional number is used to support the connector.k

- 6 and is provided witha terminal screw 16. Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the insulator in- Nuts 24 mayfbe provided for holding conductor ends to the terminal.

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate a modification in which separate terminals are provided for A'the external conductors and the conductors which pass through the eyelet from within. In this form. a U-shaped lmember 26 is clamped in place bythe eyelet 6v and is provided with a terminal screw 16 on each branch. Either the external 'supply conductors or the conductors passing through the eyelet maybe disconnected from the terminal Without disturbing the connection .of the other conductors. p

Figs. 9 to 12 illustrate forms of the .insulator adapted to support conductors such, for example, as the live parts used in heaters of the radiant type.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a support Which is similar in construction to the terminal illustrated 'in Fig. 3 except, of course, that the opening 17 is dispensed With. The bare conductor, as 27, may be supported by looping over the terminal screw as illustrated in Fig. 9.,

Fig. 11 illustrates a further modification in Which the portion 15 is bent back to form a supporting hook 2S which may be employed to support a loop of the conductor 27.

' Fig. 12 illustrates an additional modification in VWhich the inner or eyelet member 6 is used as the support While the thimble 2 is provided With a flanged sleeve 29 adapted to-support aloop of the conductor 27.- A supporting stud 30 is passed through the eyelet and headed as lat 32 to hold the insulator in place.

The various modifications shown and described are merely for the purposes of illustration as many other modifications may be employed Which will fall Within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Other insulating materials may be used than those mentioned and other means for holding the parts together may be employed.

In any of the forms illustrated the means for attaching the insulator to its support may be arranged in connection With the eyelet member instead of in connection With the thimble.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l.v An insulator and terminal comprising insulator independently of the eyelet.

3. An electric insulator and terminal coml prising a perforated disk of insuiatingmaterial, a metallic member surrounding and embracing the outer edge of the disk, .a metallic member embracing theinner edge lof the disk at the perforation, o'ne ofsaidmembers being adapted to support the insulator independently of the other member, and said other memberv being adapted to form an electrical terminal.

4. An electric insulator comprising a perforated disk of insulating material, a metal- 'lic member surrounding and embracing the outer edge of the disk, a metallic member embracing the inner edge of the disk at the perforation, the outer member being adapted to support the insulator independently of the inner member and the inner member forming an electrical terminal.

5. An electric insulator comprising a perforated disk of insulating material, a metallicmember embracing thed outer edge of the disk, a metallic member embracing the inner 'edge of the disk at the perforation, the outer member being adapted to'support the insulator and the inner member having a passage therethrough for a conductor and supporting a terminal for said conductor.

G. An insulator and terminal comprising a metallic member having an annular enlarged portion flanged over an insulating may be attached to. said support by Hanging the end ofthe sleeve opposite the enlarged portion over the support, an insulating Washer iii-the enlarged portion of said sleeve and an eyelet extending through said Washer adapted to support a binding screw.

8. A device` of the character described comprising a plurality of sheets of thin insulating material having an opening therethrough, a thimble embracing the outer edges of said sheets and compressing them, and an eyelet formed over the inner. edges of said opening to further compress said sheets, said eyelet comprising part of a tube, the rest -of Which is flattened and carries a conductor terminal.

9. An insulator and terminal-comprising a Washer of insulating material, a metallic member clamping the outer edge thereof, and a one-piece eyelet clamping the inner edge of said Washer, said eyelet having an extension to which an electric conductormay be connected and saidmember being adapted to support'the insulator independently of the eyelet. I

- 10. An insulator and terminal comprising a w.t sher of insulating material, a metallic and a one-pieceeyelet clamping the inner .edge of said Washer, said eyelet having an integral extension to which an electric con- .member clamping the outer edge thereof,

ductor may be connected andl said member being adapted to support the insulator independently of the eyelet.

11. An insulator and terminal comprising a washer of insulating material, a one-piece metallic member clamping the outer edge thereof, and a one-piece eyelet clamping the inner edge'fof said washer, said eyelet having 'an extension to whichL an electric conductor may be connected and said member being adapted to support the insulator independently of the eyelet.

l2. An insulator and terminal comprising a washer of insulating material, a one-piece metallic member clamping the outer edge thereof, and a one-piece eyeletclamping the inner edge of said washer, said eyelet having an integral extension to which an electric conductor may be connected and said member being adapted to support the insulator independently of the eyelet. f

13. An insulator comprising a metallic sleeve adapted to extend through an opening in a support and having 'an enlarged annular portion adapted to engage one side of said support whereby the sleeve may be attached to said support by Hanging the end of the sleeve opposite the enlarged portion over` the support, a perforated insula-4 ting washer in the enlarged portion 'of said sleeve, and an eyelet extending throughfthe perforation of said washer and clamping the inner edge of the washer.

14. An insulator comprising a perforated disk of insulating material, a metallic member clamping the outer edge of said disk and an eyelet extending through the perforation of the disk and clamping the inner edge thereof, said outer member having a portion adapted to` be flanged to attach the same to a support.

In witness. whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN N. LIGHTFooT.

Witnesses:

J osnr AMQN, GEORGE J. MALLoN. 

